Texas Tech University Police Chief Kyle Bonath and College President Lawrence Schovanec held a news conference concerning the shooting of one of its officers Monday.

Chief Bonath said that Officer Floyd East was the officer shot by a 19 year old Texas Tech Student Monday night at just before 8:00pm. Officer East is survived by his wife Carmen and two daughters, Monica and Anna. East had been an officer with Texas Tech University on the Lubbock Campus since May 1, 2017. He had been a guard on the Texas Tech Health Science Center in El Paso since 2014 until he transferred to Lubbock this year.

Chief Bonath gave a brief description of what led to this tragedy. He said that the department received a report of a student acting erratically and reportedly was in possession of a weapon. Bonath said officers responded to the residence hall and upon entering the room, they discovered drugs and drug paraphernalia. During this time, the student arrived at the room and was identified and was also found to be in possession of drug paraphernalia, he was arrested and taken to the Texas Tech Police headquarters for standard debriefing, which is standard policy. He said that once they arrived at the police office, officers learned from the Campus Counseling Office that the student’s family had called and was concerned that the subject had a weapon and was also talking of suicide. While the Texas Tech Police Officer was feeling out paper work, the subject pulled a gun and shot Officer East, he then fled the scene. Texas Tech Police called Lubbock PD and requested SWAT team assistance and the campus was placed in lock down.

Bonath thanked the Lubbock Police Department, Lubbock County Sheriff’s Office, Texas Department of Public Safety, FBI Agents and several agencies across the South Plains that immediately responded and assisted in the search. The Suspect, Hollis James Alvin Daniels, 19 was arrested by a Texas Tech Officer at approximately 9:30pm near the football stadium. He was transported to the Lubbock County Jail by Lubbock Police. According to the Arrest Warrant he admitted to police that he was the “one who shot their friend, saying he committed an illogical act.”

Texas Tech President, Dr. Lawrence Schovanec expressed on behalf of the college his heartfelt sympathy to the officer’s family and thanked the numerous law enforcement agencies that assisted in the search last night and continues to support Texas Tech Police.

Daniels is being held in the Lubbock County Detention Center on a charge of Capital Murder of a Peace Officer. Bond has been set at Five Million Dollars.

It was also announced that the Lubbock Police Department will handle the investigation on this case, according to Texas Tech Chief Kyle Bonath.